Teacher – Writer – Humanitarian

DIY Halloween Costumes

Every year on October 31st, people celebrate a day and night of trick-or-treating, eating candy, and wearing fun or scary costumes. This day, commonly known as Halloween, dates back to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain. The Celts, who lived in current-day Ireland 2,000 years ago, celebrated their new year on November 1st. On the night of October 31st, they celebrated Samhain, a night when they believed the ghosts returned to earth and marked the end of summer. During these festivals, sacred bonfires were held by priests, and people would burn crops and sacrifice animals to the Celtic deities. Typically, the Celts wore costumes of animal heads and skins and tried to tell each other’s fortunes. The wearing of the costume during these festivals began the now common Halloween tradition.

Weeks before the big day, people will spend time and money finding the perfect Halloween costume. However, sometimes the price of your outfit can get expensive, when all the pieces and parts start adding up. Never fear, there are ways to create your wanted look without breaking the bank.

DIY Halloween costumes can be inexpensively made using common household and craft items. Think about materials that you already have, such as boxes, fabrics, buttons, pipe cleaners, cardstock, and clothing. Only buy the missing items at discount or craft stores. Need some ideas for DIY Halloween costumes? Take a look below for some creative and fun outfits.

Rosie the Riveter: Only a few items are needed to form this iconic look. All this costume requires are jeans, a denim shirt, and a red and white polka dot bandana.

Bumble Bee: This costume is great for adults and kids. Wear a black T-shirt and black leggings. Use elastic and yellow and black tulle for a skirt over the leggings. Tie the tulle, alternating the colors, to the elastic. Lastly, purchase a bee headband from Amazon or create one yourself. Take a plain headband, black or yellow, and four pipe cleaners, two black and two yellow. Twist a black and yellow pipe cleaner together and then twist to the headband on one side. Do the same with the remaining materials. Glue a yellow pom-pom to each set of pipe cleaners at the top.

Lion: You’ll be the king or queen of the jungle with this animal look. Begin with a yellow shirt, yarn, and brown eyeliner. Using the yarn, make the lion’s mane. First, wrap yarn around three of your fingers, circling as you go. Then, tie a piece of yarn through the hole around the rounds of yarn to secure. On the opposite side from where you just tied, cut across and fluff. This should make smaller threads, and a pom-pom look. Repeat until you have plenty of yarn pom-poms. This will serve as the main part of the mane. Braid six strings of yarn together to create a headband. Be sure it is long enough to tie around your head and tie off at each end. Start from the middle of the cord and attach the pom-poms by tying them to the braided headband. Add a nose and whiskers with the eyeliner, and you’re done.

1980s Outfit: The 1980s were a decade known for their fashion—good and bad. Grab some leg warmers, bright-colored accessories, blocky shapes on clothing, velvet, lace, and some teased big hair, and you’ll be able to create a Halloween costume straight from the ‘80s.

Bubble Bath: This outfit is so simple, you can make it on October 31st. Wear a white shirt and pants or leggings underneath balloons. Blow up clear, white, and pink balloons and safety pin the end of the balloon that’s been tied all over your clothing. Then, safety pin balloons to a white headband for your headpiece. Lastly, glue a rubber duck to one of the balloons for an added effect. You can also include sponges, loofahs, and other bubble bath accessories to your outfit.

Halloween costumes don’t need to be expensive. Start with your outfit and make a list of the materials you’ll need. Think about what you have and what you need to buy. Need some more ideas? A quick Google or Pinterest search will open up a door of Halloween costume possibilities.